Snap electric switch.



PATENTED MAY 8, 1906.

rim-819,822.

' A. A. TIRRILL.

SNAP ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

witnesses A m E A w A 3 0 k PATENTED MAY 8, 1906.

A. A. TIRRILL.

SNAP ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26, 1904.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

' Ayala-A gy?! lbitnesses;

ZS llttornex No. 819,822. I PATENTED MAY 8, 1906 A. A. TIRRILL. $NAP ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 26, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

witnesses Inventor W w W. Alle A.fi2' "ZZZ.

. J. kz's Attorney PATENTED MAY 8. 1906.

A. A. TIRRILL. v SNAP ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1904.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

irllw w 9 E Z 142ml"??? zz.

752's Attorney citizen of the United States, Schenectady, in the ALLEN A. TIRRILL, or SGHENECTADY, NEW YORK.

SNAP ELECTRIC SWITCH- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented may 8, 1906.

Application filed September 26, 1904. Serial No. 225,960.

1'0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALLEN A. TIRRILL, a residing in county of Schenectady and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Snap Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This inventlon is designed to contribute to the convenience and efhciency of operation 'of that type of switch shown in application filed December 11, 1902, Serial No. 13 $,850, and to supply to said switch a fuse device which will be easy of manipulation, thoroughly reliable in its action, and unlikely in any emergency to smoke or otherwise mar the ornamental exterior of the switch.

The invention will bedescribed herein; in connection with an improved snap-switch designed to be placed on a ceiling and to be operated through a depending cord or chain,

successive pulls on which alternately make and break the circuit. All discussion of possible modifications will be omitted until the specific mechanism has been fully described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side eleva tion of the driven contacting parts of the switch. Fig. 2 is a transverse section along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are re spectively a side elevation and a front elevation of one of the brackets which support the driven parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a side elevation-and a 1 front elevation of the other bracket which supports the driven parts. Figs. 7 and 8 are opposite face views of the driving mechanism of the switch. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the driving mechanism shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line 10 10 of Fig. Fig. 11 is a face view of the actuating instrumentalities of the switch with the associated bracket shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Fig. 12 is a sectional view along the line 12 12 of Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a face view of the actuating instrumentclities similar tic Fig. 11, showing their position at their limit of motion opposite to that shown in Fig. 11. Fig. 14 shows the various parts of the switch in perspective in position to be assembled in their proper relations by being moved laterally together without rotation. For convenience the contact-bearing agencies are omitted from Fig. 14. Fig. 15 is an end elevation of the assembled switch, its base being omitted. Fig. 16 is a side elevation of the assembled switch. Fig. 17 is a plan view of the switch with its associated fuse-block. Fig. 18 is a side elevation of the switch and fuseblock, showing the former inclosed in its cover. Fig. 19 is an end view of the same. Fig. 20 is a longitudinal section along the line tion the construction of an inclosed fuse.

switch may be described in three divisions: first, the driven parts comprising the contacting agencies and their carriers; second, the driving mechanism consisting of the parts which/operate upon the contacting agencies to accomplish immediately the making and breaking of the circuit, and, third, the actuating instrumentalities controlled by the operator which compel the operation of the driving mechanism, said driving mechanism in turn communicating its action to the driven parts. The object of this'driving mechanism intermediate between the actuating inagencies is to translate the necessarily variant action of the former (it being controlled b hand) to quiclodecisive action on" the part 0" the latter in order that of the circuit may be as nearly as practicable instantaneous.

The driven parts corn rise the contactors A, the shaft B, the shaftocking pawl C, and .its carrier D, all shown with particular clearness in Figs. 1 and 2. The contactors A consist of cylindrical tremities of the raft B. Each contactor carries an oblong metal contact-plate or upon to rock toward and away from the shaft. 1 The rocked. The point ofv the pawl is laterally offset a slight distance from its carriage to, permit it to play against the shaft-stops. Said pawl-carrier D has a f, at which the motive power of the driving mechanism is applied.

The shaft B, having For convenience the mechanismvof this the make and break pulleys fixed upon the ere s its outer face, said plate having its ends bent rigid with the shaft B, carries the shaft-lock'-. ing pawl C, which is pivoted to permit its point 20 20 of Fig. 18, showing by way of explana strumentalities and the driven contacting pawl has a rigid-pin I), through which itiis projecting tongue,

. ing and breaking of-the connection between priate times in..the operation of the switch The controller G, rigid y mounted on one end which are conveniently positioned between that their rotation be .divided into successive the contactors A and the paw -carrier D rigid 7 upon it, is ournaled in the brackets c and d,

steps which shall effect alternately the makthe brushes embracing the contactors A, as

above indicated. To this end the rotation of thedriven parts is subjected to a series of arrests resulting from the cooperation of'the shaft-locking pawl C with successive fixed shaft-stops 6, arranged conveniently on a stationary stop -plate E. As shown herewith there are four such shaft-stops so disposed as to arrest the rotation of the driven parts at successive intervals when the contact-plates a are alternately vertical and horizontal relative to the spring-brushes. The stop-plate E is conveniently rigid with the bracket 0. The shaft stops 8 are given the form of ratchet-teeth, I which engage the point of the shaft-locking pawl; When properly assembled, thestopplate E and the pawl-carrierD are positioned close together, so that the shaft-locking pawl, offset laterally beyond its carrier, will play against the stops '6. The pawl cooperates with these stops to arrest the rotation of the driven parts in the forward operative movement of the switch,'which for convenience will be styled positive rotation. The period of inaction succeeding each arrest continues until the pawl is released from its engagement with the shaft-stop, permitting the driven parts to be rotated another step by the driving mechanism.

A principal element of the driving mechanism is the spiral shaft motor-spring F, attached at one end thereto, its other end being operatively connected with the shaft, which when wound up tends to impart rotary motionto the shaft through said pawl-carrier. Besides supplying the immediate motive power which rotates the shaft the driving mechanism also releases the shaft-locking pawl from its detaining shaft-stop at approand also receives from the actuating instrumentalities the action which is transmitted to the driven parts. i

The shaft-loclring pawl is released from its detaining shaft-stop b T a pawl-controller G.

of a hub g, which is loose on the shaft, con- 3 sists of a plate of characteristic shape slotted near its circumference to form a cam-slot 72, into which rejects the pin b of the shaftlocking pawl when the parts are assembled.

, extremity.

'tion of the controller the shaftocking pawl,

The forward end of the camaslot 71 (i. e., the y foremost end 1n the positive rotation of the controller) is nearer to the shaft B than is 1 at said forward extremity the cameslot re-' cedes graduall from the shaft, reaching maximum disp acement therefrom at its rear Hence during the osltrve' rotabeing held stationary by a shaftf-stop, the pinb in its cam-slot it will travel'radially outward V i from the shaft, thereby moving in like mannerv I the pawl C. The rear extremity. of the cam slot is so positioned that when the 'plin b afp}.

t e' sha tproaches near thereto the point of locking pawl will be lifted clear of its engaging shaft-stop. At the other end of the hub g from the controller G is fixed a ratchet H. The hub g, the controller G, and the ratchet H, being collectively rigid, rotate concurrently, the action of the actuating instru mentalities being applied to the ratchet The shaft motor spring is wound around the hub 9, one end of said spring beingo'per atively attached to the shaft at the ton 'e of the pawl-carrier D, the other-end o the spring being secured to the ratchet H.

When the above-described driven parts and the driving mechanism are in their proper, association, the the controller G are positloned close together, the tongue f of the carrier projecting into and through the recess 'i, formed in the periphery of the controller. This aifords convenient attachment for the end of the motor-sprin The actuating instrumentalities act upon.

the driving mechanism through the ratchet H. The principal actuating instrumentality is the reciprocating sheave I, which isv mounted loosely upon the shaft immediately awl-carrier D and I ICC adjacent to the bracket (1. The travel of this reci rocating sheave is lirnitedby a prov I jecting ug rigid therewith, which abuts u on the edge of said bracket (1 at each limit of the sheaves reciprocation. This lug is conveniently stamped out of'the late forming the body of the sheave an is turned down near the circumference in such a mannet as to project beyond the extreme lateral plane of said sheave upon the side nearest to the said bracket (1. This sheave, with its associated bracket, is shown at its normal limit of motion when the switch is at rest in Fig. 11 and at its opposite limit of motion in Fig. 13. The sheave is maintained in its normal position with the projection j abutting against the lower part of the bracket (1 by the tension of a retracting coil-spring 7 attached at one end to the bracket and at its other end to the sheave. The concave periphery of the sheave receives said coil-spring, which is held in place by its own tension. The sheave is removed from its normal position to its opposite limit of motion by means spring k, whence the sheave will return to its ing drawings is a double-pole switch having a tion, thereby rotating the ratchet H through ,convenicnt manner, said base being supplied of a cord or chain Z attached thereto. Then 1 a pull is exerted through the cord or chain Z, i the sheave is rotated about the shaft, the cord being tangential to the circumference of the sheave. It is evident that the pull on the cord opposes the tension of the retracting initial normal position when the pull on the cord is relaxed. Upon the face of the sheave farthest from the bracket d there is pivoted an actuating springawl J. When the parts are properly assemb ed, the inner face of the sheave is positioned close to a face of the ratchet H, so that the actuating-pawl J is in a position to engage the teeth of the said ratchet. The actuating-pawl J is so disposed that positive movement of the sheave (i. e., the -movement imparted by pulling the cord) drives the point of the pawl against one of the teeth of the ratchet H and gives thereto a rotary motion. The reciprocation of the shea e, as shown herewith, is limited by the lug j to occur through substantially the space of a quadrant. Hence a single positive movement of said sheave will give to the ratchet rotary movement through a quarter-revolution.

The switch illustrated in the accompanypair of spring-brushes m embracing each of the contactors A. These brushes are suit ably associated with the binding-posts n, at which electrical connections may be made. The brackets c and d, the brushes m, and the binding-posts n are secured to a base 0 in any with suitable apertures for the reception of the vdres leading to the binding-posts and for the passage of screws which attach the switch to the ceiling or elsewhere. The mechanism of the switch may be incased in a dome lilie cover p, which may be held in place by a screw passing through its top into a threaded hole in the top of one of the bra ckets. An aperture is provided in the top of the cover p to permit the cord Z to pass through.

The operation of the switch is as follows: As already explained, a pull on the cord Zrotates the sheave through a (planer-revoluthe pawl J, Concurrently the hub g and the controller G are rotate-L When this occurs, theshaft-looking pawl C is in engagement with a s fit-stop e, maintaining the shaft stationary. One end of the spiral motorspring being operatively connected to the shaft, said enQ is also stationary. The other end of the spring being. attached to the controller G, the spring is wound up to an increasing tension as said controlleris rotated. While the shaft motor-spring is being: wound up, the controller G is gracually lilting the shaft-locking pawl ()from' its engagement with the shaft-stop, so that when the said spring has reached a certain maximum tension the pawl is released, leaving the shaft free to rotate under the impulse of the motor-spring. If for any reason whatever theshaft-locking pawl C should fail to be released from its detaining shaft-stop when the motor-spring has been wound up, the OVQIWlIKliD of the said spring will be prevented by the rear shoulder of therecess "L abutting against the tongue f of the then stationary pawl-carrier 1), further rotation of the driving parts being thereby rendered impossible. When the shaft-locking pawl has been released and the shaft rotated by the motor-spring, the controller will be brought to a standstill by reason of the limited movement of thc sheave I, which can actuate the movement of the driving mechanism through a limited rotation only. The limit of this rotation isreached just after the shaft-locking pawl has been released from its detaining shaft-stop. Consequently during the positive rotation of the shaft and the pawl-carrier the controller G remains stationary. The pin 1) then will travel through its cam-slot h from the rear to the forward extremity, by which travel the point of the shaft-locking pawl is caused to move inwardly toward the shaft, nearing its limit of inward travel just as it arrives at the next shaft-stop c, where it will be engaged anew. If from any cause this engagement should fail to be effected, the rotation of the shaft would be immediately arrested by the tongue f abutting upon the forward shoulder of the recess 01, thereby preventing the un I winding of the motor-spring. The rotation of the shaft between the release of the'shaftlocking pawl and its subsequent rengagement effects either the make or breakof the metallic connection between the springbrushes m embracing the cont/actors, according to the previous position of the contactplates a relative to said brushes. lVhen this has been accomplished, the cord lmay be rela-Xed, whereupon the reciprocating sheave will return to its initial normal position, the spring-actuating pawl J will be carried to its former position and will there be in position to engage another tooth on the ratchet H. Another pull on the cord will initiate a repetition of the above-described operation, the effect upon the circuit being the. oppositeto that first produced.

It is highly desirable to combine with this improved snap-switch a fuse-block. Apre ferred form. of the combined snap-swit oh and fuse-block is shown in Figs. 17, 18, and 19. The base of the switch is secured in any convenient manner, asby machine-screws, to a platform g, of some insulating material, such as porcelain or hard rubber. .This platform is channeled at 1' 1' to permit the wires from the fuses to pass beneath the switch and upward into the apertures which conduct them to the switch bindingposts n. Channels 8 s are also provided to permit wires to pass from the switch to the main circuit. On said platform adjacent to the switch are-fixed the fuse-c 'ps K, which receive and secure in Y "bent into some such form as is shown in Fig.

19, having two downwardly-extending spring arms. These arms are curved somewhat at their outer extremities to facilitate the introduction of the fuses to the fuse-seats t, .which consist of oppositely-disposed bends in the arms, which are adapted to fit closely around the fuse ends when they are inproper position. Each end of the. inclosed fuse is capped by a piece of metalu, which is conne'cted' from within withthe fuse, which is completely inclosed in anon-conducting cylinder or pipe. The clips K are sodisposed that each pair will receive one of these inclosed fuses in such a manner that metallic connection will be establishedthroug'h one clip to the metallic'cap u embraced 'bythe clip-arms, therefrom through the fuse itself to the me tallic cap-u at its other end and from said cap to the embracing-arms of the other clip.

Each clip is'provided with an angle-piece 'v,

which serves to maintain the inclosed-fuse in position against" 'a shaft carrying the contact. making and attached to the platform g,

lengthwise displacement. Binding-posts w are conveniently .positioned on the platform g and have metallic connection, respectively, with one clip of each pair. With this arrangement a current may enter at one of the binding-posts w, travel from there to theassociated clip, thence through the 'clip, the fuse-cap, the fuse, and the other clip, thence through the connecting-wire in a channelv r to abinding-post 'n. of the switch. If the switch be closed, the current will pass through it and out to the line by the wire in a channel 8.

The switch may be used as a single-pole switch either by removing one of the contactors A or by failing to c'onnect up the hinding-post on one of the brushes m. In like manner the combined fusel-block and switch may be made to serve on a straight or divided circuit,v By omitting one of the fuses and its clips and binding-posts or by failing to make the necessary connections with one fuse the fuse-block is adapted to cooperate with a single-pole switch.

I claim as my invention- 1. A snap-switch having, in combination, a shaft carrying the contact making and I breaking devices; a shaft-motor-spring operatively connectedat one end with said shaft a series of stationary shaft-stops arranged peripherally around the shaft; 9. pawl-carrier fixed to the shaft having a tongue and a shaft locking pivoted pawl coopera ing in succes- 'by positively disengaged s'ion with said shaft-stops, said pawl havin a i rigid pin; a step-by-step-mo ving contro er loose on said shaft and operatively connected paw -controlling closed cam-slot into which 7 extends said pawl pin, said awl being thereom one of said stops and subsequently positively rengaged with the next succeeding stop at each step of said controller,- said cam-slot acting to re-, lease the pawl as the controller completes one of its steps in advance and after the motorspring has been wound up to its maximum tension, whereu on the pawl-carrier and shaft are rotate by the motor-spring until the pawl engages thenext succeeding shaftstop, said controller also having two spaced shoulders between which said tongue lies, one of said shoulderscooperating withsaid tongue to prevent the overwinding of the motorsprln and the other to prevent the unwinding 0 the motor-spring; a step-by-step-mow ing ratchet loose on said shaft and rigid with said controller; a reciprocating actuator hav-. ing a spring-pawl cooperating with said ratchet to advance it. and the controller, thereb winding up the motor-spring; handcontro led means to advance said ratchet; a Spring to return the actuator; and stops to limit the movement of the actuator in both directions.

'2. A snap-switch having, in combination,

breaking devices; a shaft motor-spring operatively connected at one end with said shaft;

a series of stationary shaft-stops; a pawl carrier fixed to the shaft having a tongue and a shaiit-lockirig1 pivoted pawl cooperating in succession wit said shaft-stops; a step-bystep-moving controller loose on said shaft and operatively connected with the other end of said motor-spring so as to wind up the same, said controller hein Y adapted to positively disengage said paw from one ofsaid stops and subsequently to positively reengage it with the next succeeding stop at each step, said controller also having two spaced shoulders between which said tongue lies, one of said shoulders cooperating with said III) tongue to prevent the overwinding of the motor-spring, and the other to prevent the unwinding of the motor-spring; a step-by-stepmoving ratchet loose on said shaft and rigid with said controller; a reciprocating actu- -ator having a s ring-pawl cooperating with said ratchetto advance it and the controller, thereby winding up the motor-spring; handcontrolled means to advance said ratchet; a spring to return th actuator; and stops to limit the movement of the actuator in both directions. .r

3. A snap-switch having, in combination, a shaft carrying the contact making and breaking devices; asha-ft motor-spring operatively connected at one end with said shaft; a series of stationary shaft-stops; a pawl-carrier fixed to the shaft having a shaft-locking pivoted pawl cooperating in succession with said shaft-stops; a step-by-step-moving controller loose on said shaft and operatively connected with the other end of said motorspt mg so as to wind up the same, said controller being adapted to positively disengage said pawl from one of said stops and subsequently to positively reengage it with the next succeeding stop at each step of said controller cooperating means on said pawl-carrier and said controller to prevent the overwinding of the motor-spring and to prevent the unwinding of the motor-spring; a step by-step-moving ratchet loose on said shaft and rigid with said controller; a reciprocating actuator coo crating with said ratchet to advance it and t 1e controller, thereby winding upthe motor-spring; means to advance said ratchet; means to return the actuator; and stops to limit the movement of the actuator in both directions.

4. A snap-switch having, in combination,

' a shaft carrying the contact making and breaking devices; a shaft motor-spring operatively connected at one end with said shaft; series of stationary shaft-stops a pawl-carrier fixed to the shaft having a shaft-locking pawl cooperating in succession with said shaft-stops; a stepby-step-moving controller loose on said shaft and operatively connected ,with the other end of said motor-s ring so as to wind up the same, said centre or having means to disengage said pawl from one or said stops and subsequently to reengage it with the next succeeding stop at each step; 006 erating means on said pawl-carrier and sai controller to prevent the overwinding of the motor-spring, and to prevent the unwinding'of the motor-spring; and means for moving said controller through its advance steps in succession.

5. A snap-switch having, in combination, a shaft carrying the contact making and breaking devices; a shaft motor-spring operatively connected at one end with said shaft; a series of stationary shaft-stops a pawlcarrier fixed to the shaft having a shaft-locking pawl cooperating in succession with said shaft-stops; a step-by-step-moving controller loose on said shaft and operatively connected with the other end of sa1d motouspring so as to wind up the same, said controller having means to disengage said pawl from one of said stops, when said motor-spi ing has been wound up; means for reengaging said pawl at the next succeeding sto means to pre vent the overwinding of t 10 motor-spring; and means for moving said controller through its advance steps in succession.

6. A snap-switch having, in combination,

a shaft carrying the contact making and breakin devices a shaft motor-s rin 0 )era J D atively connected at one end with said shaft;

a series of stationary shaft-stops; a pawl-carrier fixed to the shaft having a shaft-locking pawl cooperating in succession with sa1d shaft-stops; a step-by-step-moving controller loose on said shaft and 'operatively connected with the other end of said motor-s )Ling so as to wind up the same, said controfler having means to disengage said pawl from one of said stops when said motor-spring has been wound up; means for rengaging said pawl with the next succeeding stop; means to prevent the unwinding of the motor-spring and means for moving said controller through its advance steps in succession.

7. A snap-switch having, in combination, a shaft for operating contact making and breaking devices; power-storing means for actuating said shaft when released; a controller for said shaft-actuating means, said controller mounted on the shaft andhaving means to store the power in the shaft-actuat ing means and then to release said means to actuate the shaft; hand-controlled means for continuously advancing said controller, said hand-controlled means having backward movement to its original position after each operation of the shaft.

8. A snap-switch having, in combination, a shaft carrying the contact making and breaking devices; means for giving the shaft advwwc rotation; a stationary shaft-stop ada ted to arrest the advance rotation of said shaft; a pawl operatively connected with said shaft to cooperate with said shaft: stop, said pawl having a rigid pin; a tongue rigid with said shaft; a controller capable of relative motion with said shaft, for releasing said pawl frdm said shaft-stop, said controller having a pawl-controlling closed cam-slot into which extends said in, said controller having also paced shoul ers between which said tongue lies, the space between said shoulders in excess of the width of said tongue, being less than the length of said cam-slot in excess of the width of said pin.

9. A snap-switch having, in combination, a shaft carrying the contact making and breaking devices; means for giving said shaft advance rotation; a stationary shaft-stop adapted to arrest the advance rotation of the shaft; a pawl operatively connected with the shaft to cooperate with said shaft-stop, :sagd pawl having a rigid pin; a controller for releasing said pawl from said shaft-stop, said controller having a pawl-controlling closed cam-slot into which extends said pin.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' ALLEN A. TIR RILL.

Witnesses: 

